HOME DEPARTMENT

Written Questions

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the written questions asked of him between (a) 1 to 30 June 2001, (b) 1 to 31 July 2001, (c) 1 to 30 September 2001, (d) 1 to 31 October 2001, (e) 1 to 30 November 2001, (f) 1 to 31 December 2001, (g) 1 to 31 January 2002, (h) 1 to 28 February 2002, (i) 1 to 31 March 2002 and (j) 1 to 30 April 2002 that had not received a substantive answer by 30 April; and if he will state (i) the name of the hon. Member asking the question and (ii) the reasons the question had not received a substantive answer.

David Blunkett: holding answer 2 May 2002
	I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend, Leader of the House of Commons (Mr. Cook) on 2 May 2002. For the Home Office, the number of outstanding questions for each month between June 2001 and April 2002 as at 30 April 2002 is shown in the table. The table also shows those that were still outstanding on 12 September 2002.
	
		
			   Outstanding PQs  
			 Month Total PQs At 30 April 2002 At 12 September 2002 
		
		
			 1–30 June 2001 136 0 0 
			 1–31 July 2001 495 0 0 
			 1–30 September 2001 0 0 0 
			 1–31 October 2001 427 4 0 
			 1–30 November 2001 641 9 4 
			 1–31 December 2001 343 13 7 
			 1–31 January 2002 661 42 13 
			 1–28 February 2002 555 53 13 
			 1–31 March 2002 512 106 19 
			 1–30 April 2002 705 421 13 
		
	
	We recognise that our performance in answering Parliamentary Questions needs to be improved and we are working closely with directorates and our business change and Information Technology (IT) partners to improve the situation.

Departmental Secondments

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff in his Department have been seconded to jobs in the (a) private and (b) public sector in each of the last four years.

Hilary Benn: Secondments are part of the Interchange initiative, which promotes the exchange of people and good practice between the Civil Service and other organisations. All sectors of the economy are involved: Voluntary, Education, Health, Public and Private. Interchange provides opportunities for civil servants to learn new skills, widen their experience and develop ideas. It also brings in skills and experiences from other sectors.
	The number of Home Office staff seconded out to private and public sector organisations is set out in the table. Information for 2001–02 is not yet available.
	
		
			  1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 
		
		
			 Private sector 2 3 11 — 
			 Public sector *162 *80 *94 — 
		
	
	* The figures given for Home Office staff seconded to the public sector include posts overseas.

IT Contracts

Richard Younger-Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the total expenditure of his Department on IT systems and support in each year from May 1997 to date; how many IT contracts have been let in each of those years; of the other main contracting party in each of those contracts, how many have been (a) companies whose registered office is in (i) England and Wales, (ii) Scotland and (iii) Northern Ireland and (b) foreign companies; and what are the names of the companies falling within category (a).

Hilary Benn: To obtain information on the total Information Technology spend for the years requested would involve disproportionate cost. However, the following information on high value Information Technology Information Systems (IT)/(IS) expenditure is available.
	1. Total expenditure (at £10 million and only)
	
		
			 Year Expenditure 
		
		
			 1997 23,599,999 
			 1998 25,000,000 
			 1999 29,000,000 
			 2000 25,666,666 
			 2001 66,466,666 
		
	
	The significant increase in expenditure in 2001 was due to the letting of the Sirius contract at £25 million and the letting of a contract to Bull for IT hardware and infrastructure support for over £10 million.
	2. Contracts let/year (at £10 million and only)
	
		
			 Year Contracts let 
		
		
			 1997 0 
			 1998 1 
			 1999 2 
			 2000 1 
			 2001 2 
		
	
	3. How many suppliers have been registered in:
	England and Wales
	3
	Scotland
	0
	Northern Ireland
	0
	Foreign Companies
	1
	4. What are the names of the suppliers registered in England and Wales:
	Sirius Consortium (ICL/Global Crossing/PricewaterhouseCoopers
	CMG
	Bull/Integris (now Steria))

Disclosure of Interests

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what rules apply to the disclosure of interests on the part of those serving on public bodies which are responsible to his Department.

Beverley Hughes: All executive and advisory non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) are required to adopt a board members' code, based on guidance produced by the Cabinet Office, and they should have a register of interests.
	The following table lists the NDPBs sponsored by the Home Office and in each case indicates what the relevant Code of Practice is and where it is available.
	
		
			 Name of body Code of Practice Where available 
		
		
			 Executive NDPBs  
			 Central Police Training and Development Authority (CENTREX) Yes. A register of interests is being established which will be open to public scrutiny. Available on request from Central Police Training and Development Authority, Bramshill, Hook, Hampshire RG27 0JW. 
			   
			 Commission for Racial Equality (CRE) Yes with a register of interests. Available for inspection on request at the CRE's London office. 
			   
			 Community Development Foundation Yes with a register of interests. Policy on disclosing interests also contained in Standing Orders. Standing Orders available on request from Community Development Foundation. 
			   
			 Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) Yes entitled Code of Best Practice and Rules of Conduct. By appointment at the CCRC's office in Birmingham. 
			   
			 Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority Not applicable—no public appointments.  
			   
			 Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner No. The two Public Appointees, (the Commissioner and the Deputy Commissioner) have been invited to confirm in writing adherence to the Cabinet Office code of practice and terms stating adherence will be written into future appointees' terms of apointment. Preparation for a register of interests in hand.  
			   
			 Parole Board Yes with register of interests. The Code as set out in "The Parole Board for England and Wales—Policy and Procedures" is available on request from the Parole Board. The register may be inspected on request, by writing to the Chief Executive of the Parole Board. 
			   
			 Police Complaints Authority (PCA) Yes with register of interests. Available for inspection by appointment at the PCA's offices at 10 Great George Street, London SW1P 2AE. 
			   
			 Police Information Technology Organisation (PITO) Yes with register of interests. Currently under review. Code available from PITO committee services. Register of interests published in the annual report (see www.pito.org.uk). 
			   
			 The Natonal Criminal Intelligence Service and the National Crime Squad Bodies established on 1 April 2002. Policy on disclosing interests contained in standing orders. Code of practice to be drawn up. Standing orders available on request from the Service Authorities. 
			   
			 Youth Justice Board (YJB) England and Wales Yes Available on request from the YJB. 
			   
			 Advisory NDPBs 
			 Advisory Board on Restricted Patients (ABRP) Yes. Available from ABRP in paper form. 
			   
			 Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs No. Preparation in hand.  
			   
			 Animal Procedures Committee (APC) Yes with register of interests. www.apc.gov.uk. Also published in the APC annual report, a copy of which is placed in the Library of the House. 
			 Firearms Consultative Committee (FCC) No. Declaration of interests is published in Annual Report. Membership of the FCC expired in January 2002 and its future is under review.  
			 Poisons Board The membership of the Poisons Board has been recently reconstituted after a lapse of 11 years. A new code of practice will be developed in due course.  
			   
			 Police Negotiating Board No. Preparation in hand.  
			   
			 Prison/Probation Accreditation Panel Yes. Uses Cabinet Office's model code of practice.  
			   
			 Race Relations Forum Membership expired November 2001. The future of the Forum is under review. 
			   
			 Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act Technical Advisory Body This body was established in April 2002. The code of practice is in preparation. 
			   
			 Sentencing Advisory Panel (SAP) Yes with register of interests. Copies of Code of Practice are available from the SAP. Members' interests are published in its Annual Report. 
			   
			 Tribunal NDPBs 
			 Criminal Injuries Compensation Appeals Panel Yes. Uses Cabinet Office's model code of practice. 
			   
			 Investigatory Powers Tribunal No 
			   
			 Misuse of Drugs Advisory Body No. Currently in abeyance.  
			   
			 Misuse of Drugs Professional Panel No. Currently in abeyance. 
			   
			 Misuse of Drugs Tribunal No. Currently in abeyance. 
			   
			 Office of the Surveillance Commissioners No. 
			   
			 Police Arbitration Tribunal No.  
			   
			 Police Discipline Appeals Tribunal No. 
			   
			 Other NDPBs 
			 Boards of Visitors to Penal Establishments No. Members abide by the Prison rules, which contain provisions for disqualifying from membership, any person interested in any contract for the supply of goods or services to a prison.

Immigration

John Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many full time immigration officers will be working at the Port of Felixstowe after 1 July.

Beverley Hughes: The port of Felixstowe will not close, from an immigration point of view, until a new office at or near Ipswich has been established. The four immigration officers currently employed at Felixstowe have been transferred to Harwich on 14 July 2002. Asylum screening will continue to be carried out at Felixstowe until the new facility at Ipswich is operational. Whilst screening is conducted one immigration officer per day will attend Felixstowe from Harwich.

Immigration

John Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which immigration office will administer the Port of Felixstowe after 1 July.

Beverley Hughes: Felixstowe has always been administered from the East Anglia Headquarters at Harwich and this will continue to be the case.

Immigration

John Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if immigration officers will provide a 24-hour presence at the Port of Felixstowe after 1 July.

Beverley Hughes: Felixstowe staff did not provide a 24-hour service at the Port. The period from 2100 to 0700 was covered by officers based at Harwich. Staff from Harwich will now provide remote cover for the full 24-hours attending when required.

UK Nationals (Zimbabwe)

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many United Kingdom nationals resident in Zimbabwe have returned to the United Kingdom to settle in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: The requested information is not available.
	It is not possible to measure how many United Kingdom nationals resident in Zimbabwe have returned to the United Kingdom to settle. As holders of British passports, United Kingdom nationals are free to enter, and to remain in, the United Kingdom without requiring leave to do so they are not subject to immigration controls.

Immigration and Nationality Directorate

Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans his Department has to improve the service offered by the Public Inquiry Office of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate at Croydon.

Beverley Hughes: The aim is to improve substantially the service to the Public Enquiry Office callers and as far as possible reduce the waiting time and long queues.
	The Public Enquiry Office Croydon is currently in the process of recruiting an additional team of 17 staff, increasing its same day service capabilities. There are plans to rebuilt the entrance into Lunar House to provide better access to all of those who need to come to Croydon. It is hoped that building work may commence towards the end of this year. Moreover the Public Enqiry Office has improved its signage and website information so that callers are more informed of the service provided and all of the other options available to them.

Asylum

Teddy Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reason Mr. Mohammed Mahmood of Southend, reference M1051379, has not been notified of the outcome of his asylum application; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: I regret that remedial action following the discovery of the existence of a double file has delayed formal notification of the decision in this case. I will write to the hon. Member to explain the present position.

Foreign Students

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to review regulations relating to the employment of foreign students as seasonal workers in agriculture.

Beverley Hughes: Paragraphs 104–09 of the Immigration Rules (HC395) provide for the entry and employment of foreign students under the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme (SAWS). The recent Home Office White Paper "Secure Borders, Safe Haven" signalled, in paragraph 3.25, our intention to review the operation of this scheme. A consultation document was published on 29 May 2002, is available on the Home Office website and has been sent to a wide range of organisations with an interest in the scheme. In addition, officials have held meetings with key stakeholder groups. The consultation ended on 23 August 2002. Any changes to the scheme resulting from the consultation will be announced in due course.

Foreign Students

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much and what proportion of his 2002–03 Departmental Expenditure Limit had been spent by 31 May; what the figures were for 2001–02; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on 11 July 2002, Official Report, column 1197W.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Rape

Roger Gale: To ask the Solicitor-General what proportion of allegations of rape made to the police were brought to trial by the Crown Prosecution Service in each of the last five years.

Harriet Harman: holding answer 15 July 2002
	There are no wholly reliable or national figures which touch on the precise statistics that the hon. Member seeks.
	Some information about the extent to which reported cases reach trial may be found in the Report on the Joint Inspection into the Investigation and prosecution of cases involving Allegations of rape, published in April 2002 by HMCPSI and HMIC. The Inspection included examination of a sample of 1,741 reported complaints of rape. The offender was charged in 467 of these cases. Therefore, of the 1,741 reports of rape, some 26 per cent. resulted in a charge or summons.
	The Inspectorates' analysis does not show how many of those 467 prosecutions proceeded to trial or to guilty plea. However, the Inspectorates' Report also analysed 88 rape cases that did proceed to court. Of these 88, approximately 56 per cent. proceeded to trial (35 defendants were found not guilty after a trial and 14 were convicted after a trial). A further 39 defendants, or approximately 44 per cent. pleaded guilty without the need for a trial, which amounts to a conviction rate (including guilty pleas and those convicted after a trial) of 60.8 per cent.
	The 1,741 crime reports were drawn from ten Police Forces, and the 88 rape cases that proceeded to court were drawn from nine of these ten Police Forces. The cases were initially recorded as rape for the period 31 December 2000 or before (each Police Force was asked to provide up to a specified number of cases). In view of the limited nature of the file sample, it would be unwise to extrapolate national statistics from these figures.
	I take very seriously the need to ensure that all parts of the criminal justice system adopt best practice when dealing with rape cases. In response to the Thematic Review, the Crown Prosecution Service, Home Office and Court Service have drawn up an Action Plan to improve practice in the investigation and prosecution of offenders, and to ensure better treatment of victims and witnesses. The Plan was published on 22 July.

Rape

Roger Gale: To ask the Solicitor-General what proportion of rape cases brought to trial by the Crown Prosecution Service resulted in the conviction of the accused in each of the last five years.

Harriet Harman: holding answer 15 July 2002
	The answer is set out at the table attached. The figures include guilty pleas and convictions after trial. The data for 2001 will not be available until Autumn this year.
	
		Persons(1) tried for rape(2) at the Crown Court and numbers and proportion found guilty -- England and Wales, 1996 to 2000
		
			  Persons tried(1) Persons found guilty Proportion found guilty 
		
		
			 1996 1,125 575 51% 
			 1997 1,249 615 49% 
			 1998 1,518 674 44% 
			 1999 1,464 654 45% 
			 2000 1,373 593 43% 
		
	
	(1)Principal offence basis.
	(2)Rape of a female and rape of a male.
	(3)Persons for trial excluding those not tried.
	Source:
	Home Office.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

EU Committees (Scottish Executive Representation)

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the EU Committee on economic outward-processing arrangements for textiles is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if she will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: There are currently no plans for this Committee to meet. There have been no representatives of the Scottish Executive on this Committee in the past. A Department of Trade and Industry Official has represented the UK.

Somalia

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the supply of military equipment to Somalia from the UK.

Nigel Griffiths: Companies exporting arms and other items controlled for strategic reasons from the UK to Somalia require an export licence from the Department of Trade and Industry's Export Control Organisation.
	In line with United Nations (UN) sanctions, no exports of military equipment to Somalia are permitted apart from items of humanitarian end-use approved by the UN Sanctions Committee. UNSCR 733 (1992) imposed an arms embargo on Somalia covering "all deliveries of weapons and military equipment to Somalia until the Council decides otherwise". UNSCR 1356 (2001) amended the scope of the embargo to allow the export of humanitarian exports and protective clothing approved by the UN Sanctions Committee. UNSCR 1425 (2002) widened the scope of the embargo to prohibit "the direct or indirect supply to Somalia of technical advice, financial and other assistance, and training related to military activities."
	All relevant export licence applications for Somalia are rigorously assessed on a case-by-case basis against the consolidated EU and national arms export licensing criteria and the UN arms embargo; taking into account the particular circumstances prevailing at the time and other relevant previously announced Government policies.

Overseas Visits

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the overseas trips on departmental business that have been undertaken in each of the last five years by officials in her Department; and what the (a) cost, (b) purpose and (c) result was in each case.

Patricia Hewitt: All overseas travel by officials in the Department is undertaken in accordance with principles set in Chapter 8 of the Civil Service Management Code and the detailed rules and guidance set out in the Department's Guide to officials. The detailed information requested about individual trips is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Female Staff

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of the staff of her Department are women; and what the percentage was in June 1997.

Patricia Hewitt: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by the Minister of State, Cabinet Office, on 5 July 2002, Official Report, column 622W.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Job Location

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many jobs under the remit of his Department in (a) the core department, (b) non- departmental public bodies, (c) executive agencies and (d) independent statutory bodies, organisations and bodies financially sponsored by his Department and other such organisations, are located in (i) Scotland, (ii) England, excluding Greater London, (iii) Greater London, (iv) Wales, (v) Northern Ireland and (vi) overseas broken down by (A) whole-time equivalent jobs and (B) the percentage per individual department, body or organisation.
	 Question number missing in Hansard, possibly truncated question.

Ian McCartney: pursuant to the Written Answer on 24 July 2002, Official Report, vol. 389, col. 1589–90W
	The information is in the table.
	
		Number of jobs that come under the remit of the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
		
			  Scotland (excluding Greater London)  
			  Posts (A) WTE (B) Per cent. (C) Posts (A) WTE (B) Per cent. (C) 
		
		
			 Core department 943 889.50 0.59 18,722 17,356.90 11.69 
			 Non-departmental public bodies 936 913.5 0.58 6,293 6,136.85 3.93 
			 Executive agencies 13,947 12,987.22 8.71 88,705 80,627.05 55.41 
			 Independent statutory bodies 0 0 0 239.2 228.58 0.15 
		
	
	
		
			  Greater London Wales 
			  Posts (A) WTE (B) Per cent. (C) Posts (A) WTE (B) Per cent. (C) 
		
		
			 Core department 2,778 2,644.97 1.74 461 425.6 0.29 
			 Non-departmental public bodies 4,409 4,253.24 2.75 1,308 1,286.82 0.82 
			 Executive agencies 14,520 13,570.08 9.07 6,801 6,292.28 4.25 
			 Independent statutory bodies 29 29 0.02 0 0 0 
		
	
	Column (A) is the number of posts
	Column (B) is the Whole Time Equivalent posts taking into account staff who work part time
	Column (C) is the per cent. of posts in (A) against the total number of posts in the Department.
	
		[Changes made to original answer are in bold]
		
			  Scotland (excluding Greater London) 
			  Posts (A) WTE (B) Per cent. (C) Posts (A) WTE (B) Per cent. (C) 
		
		
			 Core department 943 889.50 0.64 
			 0.59 18,722 17,356.90 12.74 
			 11.69 
			 Non-departmental public bodies 0 
			 936 0 
			 913.5  
			 0.58 56 
			 6,293 56.00 
			 6,136.85  
			 3.93 
			 Executive agencies 13,808 
			 13,947 12,853.22 
			 12,987.22 9.40 
			 8.71 88,028 
			 88,705 79,997.05 
			 80,627.05 59.91 
			 55.41 
			 Independent statutory bodies 139 
			 0 134.00 
			 0 0.1 
			 0 677.0 
			 239.2 630.00 
			 228.58 0.46 
			 0.15 
		
	
	
		
			  Greater London Wales 
			  Posts (A) WTE (B) Per cent. (C) Posts (A) WTE (B) Per cent. (C) 
		
		
			 Core department 2,778 2,644.97 1.89 
			 1.74 461 425.6 0.32 
			 0.29 
			 Non-departmental public bodies 0 
			 4,409 0 
			 4,253.24  
			 2.75 0 
			 1,308 0 
			 1,286.82  
			 0.82 
			 Executive agencies 14,376 
			 14,520 13,437.28 
			 13,570.08 9.78 
			 9.07 6,674 
			 6,801 6,174.58 
			 6,292.28 4.55 
			 4.25 
			 Independent statutory bodies 144 
			 29 132.8 
			 29 0.11 
			 0.02 127 
			 0 117.70 
			 0 0.1 
			 0 
		
	
	Column (A) is the number of posts
	Column (B) is the Whole Time Equivalent posts taking into account staff who work part time
	Column (C) is the per cent. of posts in (A) against the total number of posts in the Department.

DEFENCE

Iraq

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence in respect of the attack by allied aircraft on 19 July in the Qadissiya province of Iraq, how many salvos were fired during the mission, what hostile acts the target area had been responsible for in provoking the attack and how many of the people injured and killed were deemed to be military personnel.

Adam Ingram: On the night of 18 July, when the incident in question occurred, coalition aircraft responded to multiple attacks on them by Iraqi air defence weapons, including anti-aircraft artillery and missiles, by releasing precision guided munitions.
	Coalition aircraft conduct patrols of the Iraqi no fly zones in support of UN SCR 688 which demanded that Saddam Hussein end the brutal repression of his own people. The pilots conducting these wholly legitimate patrols are regularly shot at by Iraqi air defences. They are authorised to respond in self-defence to efforts to shoot them down. This is the only basis on which weapons have been released over Iraq since Operation Desert Fox in December 1998.
	The coalition targets Iraqi air defence facilities that pose a threat to its forces patrolling the no fly zones. Exceptional lengths are taken to ensure civilian casualties are kept to the absolute minimum possible, including the employment of very carefully controlled targeting procedures and precision guided munitions. It is in Saddam's interests to distort the truth in his attempts to convince the world that the coalition is responsible for causing widespread suffering to the Iraqi civilian populace. Saddam would readily persecute these people, as he has done in the past, if we did not patrol the no fly zones. We are not prepared to abandon these people.

LORD CHANCELLOR

Area-based Initiatives

Don Foster: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list for each area-based initiative for which his Department is responsible the amount originally budgeted for in (a) 2000–01 and (b) 2001–02, stating in each year what funds budgeted for were not spent and if they were carried forward.

Rosie Winterton: The Lord Chancellor's Department is responsible for one designated Area Based Initiative; the roll out of Community Legal Services Partnerships (CLSPs). CLSPs are voluntary groupings made up of providers and funders of advice and help services and are not funded by the Lord Chancellor's Department. However, CLSPs are supported by regional staff of the Legal Services Commission. The total cost of these staff has been £3.5 million for each of the two years, 2000–01 and 2001–02. As this support varies according to need between CLSPs it is not possible to answer the question precisely for each local area.

Immigration Appellate Tribunal

Keith Vaz: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has to open additional IATs.

Rosie Winterton: Currently there are no plans to open new Immigration Appeal Tribunal (IAT) premises. At present all IAT hearings are conducted from Field House in London. However, there are extensive plans to open new Adjudicator hearing centres as part of the Immigration Appellate Authorities' (IAA) expansion programme. The IAA has been tasked with increasing its capacity from the current 4,500 asylum appeals per month to 6,000 cases per month from November 2002.
	Centres are planned for Newport, Stoke-on-Trent, North Shields, Bradford and Manchester, opening between November 2002 and June 2003. In addition to the new locations, the hearing capacities of existing centres in Birmingham and Hatton Cross are being increased. The precise timescales for the expansion programme remain subject to lease and planning considerations.
	The capacity of the IAT will also need to increase, but this will not require accommodation outside its London base.

Immigration Appellate Tribunal

Keith Vaz: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when he proposes to open the new IAT in Leicester.

Rosie Winterton: Currently there are no plans to open new Immigration Appeal Tribunal (IAT) premises. At present all IAT hearings are conducted from Field House in London.
	However, as part of the Immigration Appellate Authorities' (IAA) programme of expansion, a new administrative support centre is to open in Arnhem House in Leicester during November 2002. The IAA has been tasked with increasing its capacity from the current 4,500 asylum appeals per month to 6,000 cases per month from November 2002.
	The centre will operate in tandem with the existing Loughborough centre, providing back office functions in support of the expanded network of IAA hearing centres.

Fines (Enforcement)

Simon Hughes: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has to improve the enforcement of fines imposed by the courts.

Yvette Cooper: The Government are committed to improving the enforcement of financial penalties. Following the transfer of lead responsibility of warrant execution from the police to Magistrates' Courts Committees in April 2001, my Department has been taking forward a programme of work aimed at improving enforcement. Magistrates' Courts Committees have also been given nearly £10 million extra from April 2002, ring-fenced for enforcement purposes.
	The White Paper, "Justice for All", published in July, heralded new legislative proposals aimed at improving enforcement rates. The proposals could include giving court staff a range of discretionary powers to manage the collection of fines on behalf of the court. While those facing genuine difficulties should have access to support and advice, defaulters who refuse to co-operate with the court would face greater sanctions, including for example increasing the fine if the offender fails to pay on time.

Meetings

Keith Vaz: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when he next plans to meet Mr. Duncan Webster and Mr. David Wilkinson.

Yvette Cooper: I met Mr. Duncan Webster and Mr. David Wilkinson on 4 September 2002. I have no current plans to meet them again, but I would be happy to do so.